Adjustable water-planing surface.



J. F. SMITH.

ADJUSTABLE WATER PLANING SURFACE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1916,

1,287,?15'. PatentedAug. 21,1917.

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efiiciency both a citizen of "the-lU nited States, residing at difficulties due 'to the mains new snrr'rm-onnos anennus, camronnm.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, JAMES FLOYD SMITH,

Los Angeles,",jn the county of- Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Water- Planing Surfaces, of'which the following. is a specificationu- This invention relates to water planlng surfaces for hydroplanes, hydro-aeroplanes,

flying boatsand the like and it is an object of this invention to provide ameans-whereby the efiiciency of operation of a hydroplane, hydro-aeroplane, flying boat, or the like maybe increased- Such craftas. herein described encounter fact that the planing surfaces are not and cannot be. permanently built so as to attain the highest efficiency both in getting upto the, surface of the water-and in planing over the surface of the water; This deficiency is notable in any craft of the character described; and is particularly .noticeableln hydro aeroplanes, flying boats, and similar air and watercraft, where the load is considerable and where it is consequently difficult toget the pontoons up to the water surface using a plane or a step whichis at all efiicient for planing after reaching the .surface/ Where the planes are arranged for low speed, get away and landing, the planes are not efficient for quick action in raisingthe pontoons to the'surface.

To overcome .these difficulties and to increase the efficiency of such craftl provide for rising to the surface and for-skimming along the surface, and also, in hydro-aeroplanes etc., to give maximum get away and landing efficiency. plain preferred forms of mechanism embodying my invention in the following speciis a partial side elevation fication, reference being had to the accompan ing drawings, in which, for the purpose of t is specification, I have illustrated preferred forms of apparatus. embodying my invention, and in which drawings Figure 1 showing a hydroplane with pontoons equipped with'my invention, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of a pontoon, Fig. 3 is a bottom lan showing a modified form of movable p aning surfaces, Fig. 4 is a view showing a modified form of control for the adjustable planing surfaces, and Fig.

' Application filed May aa- 191s.

5 shows a modified roan of adjustable plan- 'the structure described nor lingthe aeroplane forwardly,

pontoons to the water surface.

' {manly effected by the plane 13 (the whole approximately the Specificatidn of Letters Patent. 'Paiqeemtedl Aug, 21, 191 30 SeriaINo. 100,470.

mg surface. I Y

It will be understood that although I illustrate my invention in connection with hydro aeroplanes, the invention is equally applicable to any sort of pontoon ada ted to plane in or over a water surface. ,y invention specifically provides for making or'closing a step or changing the angle of any plane on the bottom or side of a pontoon or the like, regardless of the number or relative disposition of thosestepsor planes; and the construction hereinafter described is merely a typical form of apparatus embodying my invention; the invention notbeing limited to limited in any manner except as expressed by the appended claims. In the drawings I illustrate an aeroplane framework 10;supported upon suitable pontoons 11, which pontoons are shown of the usual design and maybe of any number.

face 12 arranged approximately (that is, forward in position-as related to the after end of the pontoon) and having a for-4 ward and upward inclination. Rearwardly -of the stepped planing surface 12 anotheraway and alight.

- Consider a hydro-aeroplane having only 'theqparts described. When at rest the ponjtQOlll'GStS. to some extent below the water upon propelsurface; and the first action,

is to bring the machineand the pontoon then lying back at an" angle so that the plane-l3 then lies back atan angle so that its forward motion will. bring the pontoons to the surface) and is also efiected by the surface 12. When once on the surface the whole machine takes 1; and the action of the stepped plane 12 then is to cause the pontoon o planeor skim over the water surface un velocity is acquired for the machine to leave the water. .VVhen the pontoon has been brought up to the surface, the stepped plane In sucha pontoon, there may, be 7 normally a permanent step or .planing sur amidships and theweight of the whole .This is pri position shown in Fig.

i1 sufficient I a are being raised to the water surface, the

12 prevents proper flying speed being quickly attained, as this plane then presents a considerable angleto the plane of the water surface. On the other hand, whenthe pontoon is being brought to the surface, the plane 13, which does most of the work of raising'the pontoon to the surface, pre sents only a slight angle. The angle of plane 13 cannot be materially changed so that it would permanently present a larger angle for the purpose of raising the Polls. L I

ically pivoted on. a hinge or the like. In

toon to the surface, because the angle of the plane 13 depends upon and is fixed by those factors which determine the angle of alighting and the angle of get away.

Thejplane' 13 must be put at such an angle as .to enable the 'machine to begin flight and to alight at low speed and without danger. It Will be understood that when the machine it as rest, and when the pontoons whole machine lies back-at an angle perhaps five or six degrees depressed from the position shown in Fig. 1 and in such a position the plane 13 makes a very slight down and backward angle with the water surface. When the pontoon reaches the surface the machine is leveled out to the position shown so as to present as little head resistance as possible in order to pick up flying speed quickly. When get away speed is attained the machine is thrown back to an inclination of-say, five degrees or less, and the rear end of the central planing surface then supports the pontoon until the wings take hold.v The inclination of plane 13 limits the amount of tipping back. Now, if the angle of surface 13 were made permanently less for the purpose of increasing the chi cienoy of rising to the surface, then the machine would have to rise from and alight on the'water at a smaller angle, and this necessitates a higher get away and land.- ing speed, and generally, makes the get away and landing'more diflicult and dangerous and consume more time.

I alace-a movable and adjustable plane 14- over the stepped plane 12,. pivoting the plane 14at16. he plane 14 will normally lie in. position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 against the stepped plane 12, but

may be pushed down to the position indicated' in dotted lines by anysuitable and proper mechanism. I place another adjustable movable plane 15 over the rear part of the plane 13, pivoting the plane 15 at 17. This plane normally lies in the position shown in full lines but can be pushed down to the position shown in dotted lines by any suitable and proper mechanism. Tmay prefer to use a simple mechanism including a strut or post 90 projecting upwardly from the free edge of each of the adjustable planes, and cords or wires 21passing over pulleys 22 to pull downwardly on these adjustable, its rear part capable plane 15 is pulled ,ria

posts to force. the free edges of the adjustable planes downwardly. The wires may be operated by hand wheels 23 or by any other suitable and effective means. '1 show in Fig.

1- separate wheels 23for the two planes; but

the two planes may be moved cooperatively by extending the wires 21 both to the same hand wheel 23, the arrangement being such thatwhenone plane is down the other is up. This is shown in In F ig. 1- 1 show the planes to be mechansuch ,an arrangement any suitable means may be employed to hold the planes normally in their upper position; or the water pressure may sitions. sired vertical adj ustability by reason of being made flexible in any manner. I show in Fig. 5 the rear plane 15 resiliently of being bent down to the position shown lines. In Fig. 3 1 show planes 1 F and 15 mounted on the sides of the pontoon.

, The usual operationof my devicemay be explained as follows: The drawings show a normal riding-position for a level riding hydro-aeroplane, the planing surface on the bottom of the pontoon or pontoonsbeing approximately horizontal inthis normal riding position. However, in a tail riding machine the lower planing surface of the pontoon (that is, the planing surface of which For instance,

in dotted push them to theirupper po- But the planes may have the dethe plane 1 1 forms a continuation when in its lowered position) is tipped back at an angle; and the surface 13 may be approximately horizontal. riding position, there is no difference in op eration, whether my device is applied to a level riding pontoon or a tail riding ma chine. In a level riding machine, when the machine begins to move forwardly, the first action is to tip the pontoon back, this being caused by the normal action of the pontoon in the water tending whereas, in a tail riding machine, the ponto rise at its bow;

Other than the normal I toon is already in this position when the initial start is made. Thus, the position of the. pontoon, before it is raised to the'water surface, is a position partially submerged in the'water with the surface 13 approXimately horizontal; and in this position, and when the machine is moving forwardly, the down while the step plane 12'is allowed to be in its upper position; so that both planes then make their maXimum forward and upward angles with the horizontal in such a manner as to more effectively raise the pontoon to the water surface. As soon as the pontoon reaches the surface, then the surface skimming aotion commences. The plane 14 is pulled down as the pontoon reaches the "surface and the plane 15 allowed to move back in its upper position; then the pontoon rides upon the plane 14:, nearly horizontal,- -r-;. i h a sce e may on top :of' the water poses.

quickly .mum eficiency of both kinds is, The navigator or aviator quickly plane 14:- which then formsdirect continuations of the planing surface. The machine is then skimming over the water surface and is then naturally riding with the bottom planing surface of the pontoon, and lowered ith the Water. The angle in be one or -two degrees or so, the-pontoon or pontoons and to 'afii'ord the least possible resistance to forward motion, In this position the .whole mac'hine then quickly picks upthe necessary speed to leave the water; and when such speed is attained the pilot then t'ps the machine back in the usual manner and the pontoon then momentarily rides [on just ntto keep not touching the water; The-inachine then efficient angle. Upon alightin'g', the plane its proper angle; the rising and'alighting angle'being the one for it skims over the water surface without excessive resistance, and is easily brought to rest without any shock or abrupt stop. In getting away fromthe wateror in land4 ing on the waterthe rearward and upward angle of surface 13 madepossible by the angular position of the surface 15, allows the maximum low speed angle to be em-.

,ployed without causing jump ng or porwhich will occur-if the stern-of a pontoon touches the water.

It will be-seen that my invention provides meansfor placing the planing surfaces at their proper angles to act most fiiciently, whether the pontoon is being brought to the surface or is planing over the surface. eon.- sequently'my invention provides'for getting to or ofi the surface with a greater load or more quickly, or both; and this is a very important feature as regards both hydroplanes and hydro-aeroplanes. In the last mentioned craft, the ability to rise quickly and to carry a heavy load is a very impor tant item especially. for maneuveringpun the ability to get In hydroplanes,

to the surface, (and, at the same time, the ability to develop maximum speed on the surface) is very important. In hydroplanes .as now built the planes are permanently set to obtain maximum planing speed, and consequently they obtain very low raising efficiency. With my invention, maxiattained. learns by the adjustable planes poising,

experience where should be set to obtain maximum lifting power and speedwhen under the water and when on the surface.

approximately or -making a the rear part of surface 1a with the planes 13 and 15 nearly, but

15 is allowed to lie. in 1 its normal upper'position, so that the machine may alight at ward angle, and manually mally making a v For the purposes of this description and of the following claims, the normal positi'on of the pontoon may be considered substantially as that shown in Fig. 1; being that position in whichthe pontoon rides and rests when applied to a level riding hydro-aeroplane, and being approximately that position in which the pontoon planes over the water surface after once having been raised to the surface. It will be understood, however,.;that this position, which is assumed to be the normal position, is more or less arbitrarily selected and assumed as such; in actual practice this as sumed normal position may be, or may not be, the position in which the pontoon normally rests. I

, Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1..'In devices of the character described, a pontoon, a planing surface amidships normally making a forward and upward angle of incidence with the water, a planing surface aft normally making a rearward and upcontrollable means planes to decrease their normal angles relative to the water.

2. In devices of the character described, a pontoon, a planing surface amidships norforward and upward angle to move said with the water surface and hinged to the I pontoon at its rear edge, a planing surface aft normally making a rearward and upward angle with the water surface and hinged to thepontoon at its forward edge, and manually controll d means for lowering the free edges of the two planes.

3. In devicesof the character described, a pontoon, a planing surface amidships normally making a forward and upward angle with the water surface and hinged to the pontoon at its rear edge, a planing surface aft normally making a rearward andupward angle with the water surface and hinged to the pontoon at its forward edge, and manually controlled-means for cooperatively moving the free edges of the two planes so that when either is depressed the other may rise.

4. In hydro-aeroplanes, a'pontoon, a planing. surface thereon making a normal rearface, and means for moving said plane to hange its normal angle with the water surace.

5; In hydro aeroplanes, a pontoon, a planing surface flexibly secured at its forward edgethereto and normally making a rearward andupward angle with the water surward and upward angle with the water surf the water surface, a planing surface forward the two planes so that when normally making a forward and upward angle, and means for cooperatively depressing one is depressed the other may rise.

7, In devices of the character described, pontoon, a planing surface aft normal making a rearward and upward angle with the water surface a planing surface forward making a forward and upward angle, and means for movingthe aft/er surface to decrease its said normal angle.

8. In devices of the character described, a pontoon, a planing surface aft normally making arearward and upward angle with the water surface, a planing surface for Ward making a forward and upward angle, and means for moving said planes to de crease their said normal angles.

9. in hydro-aeroplanes, a pontoon having a normal substantially horizontal. planing surface, a planing surface rearward of said horizontal surface making a normal upward and rearward angle of inclination with the horizontal, and means to move said last mentloned surface to decrease its angle of inclination with the horizontal.

10. In hydro-aeroplanes, a pontoon havmg a normal approximately horizontal plan-s ing surface, a fined upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface rearward of the horizontal surface, a movable planing surface at the rear part of said upwardly and rearwardly inclined fixed surface, said movable surface normally forming an upward and rearward continuation of said fixed surface, and means to move said movable surface to decrease its angle with the horizontal.

ward of said horizontal plane, a movable plane normally forming a rearward and upward extension of said rearwardly and up wardly inclined plane, and means to move the rear edge of said movable plane down wardly,

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribedniy name this 22nd dayof May 1916,

' J. FLOYD SMITH.

Witnesses:

James T, Bannnrinw, Enwooo l l. BARKELEW. 

